Chapter 2 - Chloe Answers Before Julian Can Speak
Claire looked directly at Julian.
“Wasn’t that watch supposed to be for your mother?”
Julian opened his mouth.
Chloe answered first.
“She didn’t want it.”
Claire turned toward her.
“How would you know?”
Chloe’s confidence flickered.
Julian stepped in.
“Claire, not here.”
The use of her name changed the hallway.
Several executives looked sharply between them.
Chloe slowly removed her hand from Julian’s arm.
“Claire?”
Before Julian could explain, the board chair, Evelyn Price, walked out
of the conference room.
She saw Claire’s stained dress.
Then Chloe.
Then Julian.
“Good. You’re here.”
Claire almost smiled.
Evelyn checked her watch.
“The CEO announcement is in twenty minutes.”
Chloe’s face emptied.
“CEO?”
Evelyn looked at her.
“Yes. Claire Whitmore.”
Silence.
The woman who had called Claire a custodian went pale.
Claire did not enjoy the moment as much as she expected.
She was watching Julian.
He looked less embarrassed by Chloe’s behavior than frightened by what
Claire might ask next.
Evelyn suggested postponing the announcement so Claire could change.
Claire refused.
“No. We’re starting on time.”
At nine-thirty she walked onto the stage in a matcha-stained navy dress.
She introduced herself as CEO.
Then she said:
“My first priority is understanding how authority actually functions
inside this company—not how the organization chart says it functions.”
Julian stared at her.
Chloe stared harder.
Afterward Claire asked internal audit for a private meeting.
She did not fire Chloe immediately.
The drink incident would be documented and investigated under company
policy.
But Claire wanted to know something else first.
“Pull every expense connected to that watch.”
The auditor hesitated.
“Why?”
“Because I approved the idea as a personal gift for my mother-in-law. I
want to know why an employee is wearing it.”
An hour later, the invoice arrived.
May you like
The watch had not been purchased with Julian’s personal card.
Whitmore Holdings had paid for it.
